Low Medical Assistant Pay Dilemma

Not Enough Medical Assistant Pay?

I wish I had a dollar for every medical assistant who tells me that one of their biggest gripes is the relatively low pay they receive. They feel their pay is too low for what they do, ant it is frustrating them. If a medical assistant states: "I am not happy with my pay!" I cannot help but ask: "HOw much do you make, and could there be something that's holding you back?" and then, I suggest...

Change Your Belief, or Change Your Profession!

That my sound extreme, but as in any field, the medical assistant salary is commensurate with the person's level of education, training, certification, and years of experience. I cannot emphasize it enough: employers select suitable candidates not only by their training and skill level, but (unfortunately) also by how much (or should I say, how LITTLE) they are able to get away with in pay.

Wages & Employment Trends

National Median wages (2008) = $13.60 hourly
Employment (2006) = 417,000 employees
Projected growth (2006-2016) = Much faster than average (21% or higher)
Projected need (2006-2016) = 199,000 additional employees

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics 2008 wage data 2006-2016 employment projections

However, when it comes to your pay you are NOT helpless! Nor is the situation hopeless. After all, if you have the right training, and credentials, you can land the better positions and get promotions simply by standing out from the rest. Of curse, you will also have a valuable tool to negotiate during the job interview. Just ask yourself this: "How can I compete with the rest, and prove that I am the most qualified candidate for the position?" While you may not (yet) have years of experience under the belt, you certainly have already shown that you are serious and dedicated to your profession and future.

Use Your Credentials to Pave the Way!

During the interview, it's only you, the interviewing panel, and the decision makers. If you are struggling to make ends meet on your current medical assistant pay who will speak on your behalf?

Medical Assistant Typical Work Week

In recent years, the Medical Assisting profession has become indispensable to many areas in the health care field. Medical assistants find positions in doctors' offices, physician group practices, hospitals, and wellness clinics where they perform their daily tasks. However, they are not always happy with their level of compensation. Although they always earn more than the minimum wage, most medical assistants feel it is not commensurate with the amount of work and responsibilities they have in a busy medical office.

For any questions regarding earnings, wages and job trends contact:

U.S. Department of Labor
Frances Perkins Building
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20210

* FLSA stands for Fair Labor Standards Act

• Medical Assistant Wage Comparison